Tonight is bargain night at Silver Dollar Fair

CHICO >> South Chico will be a lot busier tonight and through Memorial Day for the annual Silver Dollar Fair.

Tonight will be dollar night, with people getting through the door for a single buck.

Thursday is usually the slowest night of the five-day event and fair manager Scott Stoller said he hopes more people show up, have fun, and want to attend a second night.

Normally adult admission is $9.

If you're a carnival ride junkie, wristbands are on sale Thursday, Friday and Monday for $25. They are $30 for Saturday and Sunday.

Once you get in the door, all other entertainment, including the Monday demolition derby, nightly musical performances and variety acts are free.

Stoller always tries to book the best entertainment he can find, and this year he latched on to up-and-coming star Jerrod Niemann.

Niemann was booked in the fall, and since then his songs have leaped on the country charts. Stoller knows he has a good act, because most of the reserved, premium seating has sold out. (Note, grandstand seating remains free).

Country singer Niemann, who plays at 8 p.m. Friday, has written songs for Garth Brooks and Chris LeDoux, and his recent hits include "One More Drinkin' Song," "Lover, Lover," and "What Do You Want?"

Many more musical notes

Tonight the headliner will be American Young, a duo who both played separately in Nashville and have written songs for Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts and Blake Shelton.

Also playing today is Chad Bushnell, raised in Red Bluff, who has been making the rounds with his guitar since childhood.

Friday night will also feature Jackson Michelson, with more country music.

The Marshall Tucker Band fires it up Saturday at 8 p.m., with seven gold and three platinum albums to their credit, and long-loved hits including "Fire on the Mountain," and "Take the Highway."

Sunday its a head-banging blast from the past with Quiet Riot, the early 1980s heavy metal band, whose song "Come on Feel the Noize," is memorable to anyone who wore parachute pants in high school.

New freaky carnival ride

Butler Amusements has handled the carnival rides in Chico for years and years. The company tries to mix up the rides, so longtime fair-goers have something new to spin them around.

This year, the prized ride is the Freak Out.

Fair manager Stoller said the ride is new and recently shipped from Europe.

The Freak Out moves riders up into the air quickly, which can give you a great view of most of the town, as long as you are opening your eyes.

Barnyard Dash

Similar to the racing piglet act that has been at the Silver Dollar Fair for several years, the Barnyard Racers involves the crowd in a boisterous animal race.

Yet, the act this year includes turkeys, ducks, goats, pigs and other barnyard animals doing a lap around the track.

Thin legs and lederhosen

Hilby, "the skinny, German juggling boy," wows his crowd with Velcro, marshmallows, catapults and the "bowling ball of terror."

Of course, he also juggles, plays with fire and rides a unicycle.

Stoller said it's hard to describe this act, but Hilby really gets the crowd involved.

Buy (part of) the farm

The number of animals shown at the fair has been on the rise the past few years, Stoller said. Last year there were 487 entries, and this year the total is 510.

The livestock auction takes place at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Racetrack events

Experience has shown that people really like the action of a good race.

Friday will feature motocross, with more than 100 riders.

Saturday, the 200-lap Enduro race takes place and Sunday the Civil War sprint cars.

Monday is the Demolition Derby. If you're willing to sacrifice a few dents, you can enter your own car up until the day of the derby for a $75 entry fee. Visit www.silverdollarspeedway.com for rules.

When it's time to get away from the sound of animals, cars and carnival rides — arts, craft and cooking exhibits from the community are on display.